§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits from local probation officers prisoners in category B prisons are expected to receive in advance of release; and how many were received per prisoner released from each category B prison in the last year for which information is available. [67193]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 5 July 2002]: Figures on the information requested are not collected centrally. There is no requirement for the home supervising (local) probation officer to carry out a minimum number of visits to a prisoner in a category B prison who will be subject to supervision on release. Probation officers are expected to use their judgment to ensure that there is sufficient contact at a pre-release stage to enable the successful resettlement of the offender and the preparation of a supervision plan.
§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons he has visited; and when these visits took place. [67928]
§ Hilary BennSince becoming Home Secretary in June 2001, my right hon. Friend has visited two prisons; Leeds on 8 August 2001 and Belmarsh on 24 January 2002. Further visits will take place in due course.